There are many reasons for progressives to cheer for the campaign to bring veteran Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank out of retirement to fill John Kerry’s Senate seat.

Not least is the sheer fun of listening to Frank lob verbal grenades at the Republicans, as the battle over austerity heats up in Washington.

“I will miss this job, but one of the advantages of not running for office is I don’t even have to pretend to be nice to people I don’t like,” Frank said at a press conference announcing his retirement.